There was an old mate of my mother's in the pub at lunchtime and I went over and asked her how she was- and after one or two exchanges- not unfriendly but not without a certain awkwardness- it became clear she had no idea who I was. I wondered which would be least embarrassing for her- pretending I hadn't noticed or setting her straight- and opted for the former.

The barmaid said there should be six of them working shifts today and only two had showed up and the likelihood was she'd be stuck there all evening, serving at the pub's New Year's party. Fun for some.